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Infidelity Neighbourhood

2012年5月23日

　　　
　　
　
　
Infidelity Neighbourhood
　
　

Subj:Yeah! I’ll get my butt

out of the library

From: barclay1720@aol.com
To: diane@vancouver.ca
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:04:23 PM
Pacific Daylight Saving Time

Hi, Diane,

Spring is in full bloom!
Hip! hip! Hurrah!
What a gorgeous day!

As you said, I’ll get my butt out of the library, and skip and hop around like a teenaged bambino.
he, he, he, he, he, …

Are you keeping your eye out for someone for me?
It is nice of you.

Are you in the market?
Would you prefer a Japanese woman?
What would your age group be?
What interests would you prefer she have?
Sometimes I meet the loveliest ladies at the gym or church or at the theatre and they tell me they’d love to have a boyfriend.
Of course, you’d have to get your butt out of the library more.

What do you think?

Good to see you last Tuesday.
but I couldn’t answer the above questions.
So, I’ve just written an article to answer all the above questions.

Please click the following link:

(casa12.jpg)

■“Diane in Casablanca”

(May 5, 2012)

I hope you’ll get a lot of sunshine while you’re skipping along the seawall.
Your truly faithful follower, Kato

Subj:you’d have to get your butt

out of the library more.

From: diane@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Mon, May 7, 2012 7:55 pm
Pacific Daylight Saving Time

Hi Kato,

Maybe we should call you Kato in Casablanca!?

(casa15.jpg)

(golda004.jpg)

“Casablanca” – Trailer

Thanks for all of this, and you sort of answered some of my questions, but I can see I have work left to do.
The Denman Syndicate is a fine thing you do, for sure, but it doesn’t replace a real live girlfriend, n’est-ce pas?

(edison3.jpg)

You remember Thomas Edison, I’m sure, and all the work that went into his discovering how an unseeable current of energy could be harnessed and turned into light.
I’m not sure how long it took for him to make his final discovery, but one thing for sure is that he had failure after failure after failure.

When people would ask him if all these failures were discouraging, he’d say “not at all; it just one more thing I know not to do or one more thing that is bringing me closer to finding what I want to find”.
This lesson is transferable to love relations; so what if you are mismatched?
So what if she’s not the right one?

Each time you meet a new woman and attempt to connect you learn more about yourself, about what you want in a woman, about what you have to offer.
It’s all good.
You may want to try “Plenty of Fish”.
It’s free and if you’re honest about who you are and what you want in a woman, there’s a good chance you’ll find it.
I think the key is to be as honest as you possibly can.
In the meantime, of course, I’m keeping an eye out for you.
Good women who actually want a boyfriend seem rare these days for some reason.
There are lots of good women my age who are quite content without a man.
Hard for me to understand, but there it is.

It was so gorgeous today I just couldn’t stay inside.
Well, I did do a bit of housework, but that was about it.
Spring has sprung it appears; tomorrow is my seawall walk, so hope it continues!

So good to hear from you,

Love, Diane ~

So, Diane, you’ve enjoyed your seawall walk, eh?

You’re telling me, Kato.　 What lovely and gorgeous days we’ve got here in Vancouver lately! 　Why don’t you join me someday? 　It’s a pity for you to stay all the time in the library. 　You’re really attached to the library, if not permanently connected to the the computer at Joe Fortes Library.

He. he, he, he, he … sometimes, I feel as if I was confined in the library for life.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, … oh, Kato, you sound so miserable. 　There are so many beautiful, friendly, and gorgeous women out there under the bright sunshine. 　These biker babes are just waiting for you.

(biker303.jpg)

(biker106.jpg)

(biker105.jpg)

(biker203.jpg)

(biker012.jpg)

Are you saying that those biker babes are waiting for me?

No, no, no … Kato, you’re imagining things…those women are imaginary—not real. 　You’ve simply made up the above pictures.

Have I?

Oh yes… you should talk to real women.

Where can I find real women?

Don’t be silly! 　Real women are everywhere. 　You simply get your butt out of the library.

Wow! 　These beach gals are nice and gorgeous!

So, I’m saying, get your butt out of the library and meet those beach gals.

Are they real?

Of course, they are. 　The above women are not your creations in your mind. 　They’re all real.

By the way, Diane, are you real?

Yes, of course, I am. 　Don’t ask me such a stupid question! 　Kato, have you been thinking that I am an imaginary creature?

Well… lately, the boundary between imaginary and real things are getting blurry to me.

It’s because you’re so absorbed in the books, movies and DVDs, in general, and the Net, in particular.

Am I?

Oh yes, no question about that!

If you say so, what about those people who eagerly read my articles about “Biker Babes” and “Diane in Casablanca”?

Where are they?

Look at the following page-view list.

(ame20518e.gif)

“Biker Babes” and “Diane in Casablanca” are among the well-read articles on the above Japanese site. 　Mind you, all the other articles are written in Japanese. 　Taking into consideration the Japanese unwillingness to handle the articles written in English, I think this is a phenomenal success. 　Besides, these two articles were posted on the other blogs of the “Denman Syndicate.”

(denmansyn.gif)

(hg20518be.gif)

You see… The number of visitors is increasing month by month since I’m working as hard as possible to write interesting stories. 　Diane, you’re helping me a great deal, writing me many pieces of interesting mail and giving me tons of inspiration. 　This is such a lovely collaboration, I’d say. 　Furthermore, Diane, look at the following map and list.

People around the world are also reading “Biker Babes” and “Diane in Casablanca.” 　It has been increased to 55 countries from 48 when I showed the map last time.

Kato, are you trying to say that they believe I’m such an ideal figure as Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca”?

Yes, of course.

(ingrid.jpg)

Ingrid Bergman … Can’t

take my eyes off of you

As I told you, Diane, you’re now quite popular among the Net surfers in Japan, if not all over the world.

Do you want me to believe this?

Well, next time you’re thinking about going abroad, go to Tokyo, instead of London.

Why?

…’Cause you could easily expect a red-carper reception, and they would treat you as if the late Princess Di came into life. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, …

(2004fx.png)

That would be nice, but I don’t like an imaginary way of life.

Imaginary way of life?

I don’t like that. 　I admire your work on the Denman Syndicate, or whatever it is, but you must always face the reality.

I see.

As I told you, don’t be afraid of failures! Each time you meet a new woman and attempt to connect, you learn more about yourself, about what you want in a woman, about what you have to offer.

I see.

Kato, do you really understand what I’m saying?

Yes, of course, I do. 　But you mentioned that good women who actually want a boyfriend seem rare these days for some reason.

Yes, I said that.

You also said, there are lots of good women your age who are quite content without a man.

Yes, I said that, too. It is hard for me to understand this.

I know why lots of good women your age are quite content without a man.

Oh, do you? 　Tell me Why.

The other day, I read a newspaper article. Diane, read the following excerpt, will you?

Where there’s a beach, there are horny people,” jokes Symonds, famous for an alleged high-profile affair with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey.
“It’s an epidemic in Vancouver.
It’s one of the top five cities in the world to live in, so there’s something about success, wealth and standard of living that opens up more opportunities for infidelity.”

Symonds now helps women get out of affairs through her websites, Mistresses Anonymous.
She’s also currently filming a Slice reality TV show in Vancouver that is described as “Intervention meets Sex and the City.”

“There’s a reason we’re filming the show in Vancouver,” she said. “The problem is, for every mistress there’s a man cheating on his wife.
There’s never a good outcome for anybody.
Most of these (mistresses) want a relationship, a marriage, a family, but they can’t do that in an affair.”

Her advice for curious husbands who feel stuck in a troubled marriage?

“Keep it in your pants and talk about it with your wife.”

Top 10 cheating

neighbourhoods

1. Kitsilano
2. West Vancouver
3. Shaughnessy
4. Burnaby
5. Yaletown
6. Downtown
7. Surrey
8. Richmond
9. New Westminster
10. MacKenzie Heights

SOURCE: AshleyMadison.com

by Matt Kieltyka
matt.kieltyka@metronews.ca

Thurs., May 17, 2012

Hmmm … quite interesting, isn’t it?

Yes, it is. 　You see, Diane, lots of good women your age are well aware that there are lots of men who feel stuck in a troubled marriage. Mind you, those women are sick and tired of going through another trouble with those men.

So, Kato, you believe that those good women are quite content without a man, don’t you?

Yes, I do. 　Those elderly gals are sick and tired of failures. 　So the nice and not-so-young women come to the library and would rather feel like being stuck in a computer, instead of a lousy man. He, he, he, he, he…

【Himiko’s Monologue】

Yes, some single women are looking for an extramarital activity because most of them are sick and tired of lousy single men.
I understand that single women like me want a relatioinship, a marriage, and a family, but they can’t get those in an affair.
The point is, there are so many unhappy husbands who feel stuck in a troubled marriage, and look for a “blue bird” with a single woman.
But those lousy husbands should talk about the problem with their wives in the first place.
However, they seldom do.
This is the cause of all the troubles mistresses have to go through.

Well… I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye …

If you’ve got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:

■“Hello Diane!”

■“I wish you were there!”

■“Jane Eyre”

■“Jane Eyre Again”

■“Jane Eyre in Vancouver”

■“Jane Eyre Special”

■“Love & Death of Cleopatra”

■“Nice Story”

■“Scrumdiddlyumptious”

■“Spiritual Work or What?”

■“What a coincidence!”

■“Wind and Water”

■“Yoga and Happiness”

■“You’re in a good shape”

■“Madame Riviera and Burger”

■“Roly-poly in the North”

■“Amazing Grace”

■“Diane in Paris”

■“Diane in Montmartre”

■“Squaw House and Melbourne Hotel”

■“Tulips and Diane”

■“Diane in Bustle Skirt”

■“Diane and Beauty”

■“Lady Chatterley and Beauty”

■“Victorian Prudery”

■“Diane Chatterley”

■“From Canada to Japan”

■“From Gyoda to Vancouver”

■“Midnight in Vancouver”

■“Madame Lindbergh”

■“Dead Poets Society”

■“Memrory Lane to Sendai”

■“Aunt Sleepie”

■“Titanic @ Sendai”

■“Birdcage”

(sylvie121.jpg)

■“Roly-poly in the wild”

■“Silence is dull”

■“Zen and Chi Gong”

■“Piano Lesson”

■“Dangerous Relation”

(juneswim.jpg)

■“Diane Girdles the Globe”

■“Diane in Casablanca”

Hi, I’m June Adams.

Several rumors and misconceptions have grown up around the film “Casablanca.”

Some say, Ronald Reagan was originally chosen to play Rick.

This originates in a press release issued by the studio early on in the film’s development, but by that time the studio already knew that he was due to go work for the army, and he was never seriously considered.

Others say, Reagan had turned down the lead role.

Studio records make clear, however, that Wallis—the film’s producer—was committed to Bogart from the start.

Another well-known story is that the actors did not know until the last day of shooting how the film was to end.

The original play (set entirely in the cafe) ended with Rick sending Ilsa and Victor to the airport.

During scriptwriting, the possibility was discussed of Laszlo being killed in Casablanca, allowing Rick and Ilsa to leave together.

But this is not a good idea because forcing her to carry on with the husband in these days is far more important than the love of two little people.

It was certainly impossible for Ilsa to leave Laszlo for Rick, as the production code forbade showing a woman leaving her husband for another man.

ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』

■『軽井沢タリアセン夫人 – 小百合物語』

とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。

(sylvie122.jpg)

タグ:Denman, Diane, extramarital affair, fling, Infidelity Neighbourhood, Kato, love, love affairs, marriage
カテゴリー: アメリカの歴史, カナダ, コミュニケーション・人間関係論, ジューンさんが登場, ダイアンさんが登場, デンマンさんが登場, デンマンシンジケート, Denman Blog (WordPress), 英語・英会話, 訪問者数・閲覧者数, 女性の心と体と健康, 愛と性, 愛の形と色・異性のタイプ | コメントする »

空気頭？

2012年5月22日

空気頭？

Airhead

こんにちは。ジューンです。
お元気ですか？

さて、今日の英単語は日本語に訳すと、どうなると思いますか？
ちょっと面白い訳ですよう。
考えてみてください。

当然の事ですけれど、　air と　head　という２つの単語が合わさってできた単語です。
air は、英語を勉強し始めた人であれば誰でも知っていますよね。
「空気」です。

head も極めて初歩的な英単語です。
どちらの単語も中学校１年生ならば知っているでしょう。

でも、この簡単な２つの単語が合わさると、どのような意味になるのでしょうか？
ちょとナゾナゾっぽくなってきましたよね。

直訳すれば「空気頭」ですわ。うふふふふ。。。

なんとなく分かるでしょう？

脳ミソの代わりに空気が詰まっているオツムです。

もう分かったでしょう？

そうです。「おろか者」、「まぬけ」、「とんま」という意味です。

では、例文をお目にかけます。

He’s confused again.

What an airhead!

彼はまたまごついている。

なんておろか者なんだ !

あなたも、たまには使ってみてくださいね。（微笑）

どうですか？
英語の俗語って面白いでしょう。

英語は国際語ですよね。
あなたも英語をおさらいしてみませんか？

ええっ？　時間もないしお金もないの？
だったらね、時間がなくてもお金がなくても勉強できる方法を教えますよ。

どうすればいいのかって。。。？
次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■　『あなたの国際化をサポートしてくれる無料英語学習サービス』

ネットをやっているあなたなら、いつでもどこでも無料で国際語を勉強する事が出来ます。
明日から始めることが出来ますよ。
いろいろなコースがあります。
例えば、科学用語だとか。。。
ビジネス用語だとか。。。
わたしは俗語を選択しています。
あなたも好きなコースを選ぶ事ができますよ。

では、今日のホットな情報に参りますわねぇ。

今日のホットでお得な情報

あなたが本当に

やりたい仕事に就くために…

あなたは、今、自分が本当にやりたい仕事についていますか？
惰性で今の仕事を続けているのではありませんか？
本当は、他にもっとやりたい仕事があるのだけれど、
仕方ないから、今の仕事をやっている。

どうですか？
考えてみた事がありますか？

ええっ？
他にやりたい仕事があるけれど、
思ったような仕事に就けるとは思わないの？

初めから、そのような消極的な考えではダメですよう。

２１世紀はネットの世界ですわよ。
あなただって、こうしてネットを使っているのですわ。
そうでしょう？
だったら、ネットをもっと活用して、あなたの本当にやりたい仕事に就くべきよう。

一生は一度だけなのよね。
あなただって知っているでしょう？
つまり、やり直しがきかないのよう！

ええっ？どうすればいいのかって。。。？

転職のプロに相談するのよう。
もちろん無料だわよう。

どう？
何事も一歩を踏み出す事が大切なのよう。
あなたが失うモノはないのよう！

それどころか、クリック一つするだけで、あなたの輝かしい未来が開けるかもしれないのよう！

ウソだ～♪～い？？？

ウソじゃないのよう！
とにかく、始める前から、そのように消極的じゃダメなのよう。
だからね、ぜひ一歩を踏み出すためにも次のリンクをクリックして覗いてみてね。

■　『あなたが本当にやりがいのある仕事に就くために！』

万里の道も一歩からですからね。
じゃあ、頑張ってね。

英語の勉強に疲れたら、
あなたの将来について考えてみたら。。。？

時間があったらぜひ覗いてみてくださいね。
では、幸運を祈っていますね。

ィ～ハァ～♪～!

メチャ面白い、

ためになる関連記事

■　『ちょっと変わった　新しい古代日本史』

■『大阪の歴史馬鹿（２００９年９月２２日）』
　
■『「蒲団」と「田舎教師」（２００９年９月２４日）』

■『卑弥子さんの存在感（２００９年９月２６日）』

■『ロマンとデジャヴ（２００９年９月２８日）』

■『夫婦風呂（２００９年９月３０日）』

■『露悪趣味（２００９年１０月２日）』

■『カプリ島と香水（２００９年１０月１０日）』

■『小百合さんの香水１０月１４日）』

■　『軽井沢タリアセン夫人 – 小百合物語』

おほほほほ。。。

卑弥子でござ～♪～ますわよ。

くどいようですけれど、

また現れましたわ。

やっぱり、ジューンさん

ぱっかりに任せていると

退屈するのよねぇ～。

それで。。。つい、つい、

出て来てしまうので

ござ～♪～ますわよ。

ええっ、余計な事は言わなくてもいいから、

さっさと言いたいことを言って消えろ！

あららあああぁ～

あなたはそのような厳しいことをあたくしに

言うのでござ～♪～ますか？

いけすかないことォ～♪～

分かりましたわ。

では、今日の一言を。。。

うふふふふ。。。

Motivation is what gets you started.

Habit is what keeps you going.

— Anonymous　（詠み人知らず）

事を起こすにはやる気が必要です。

ひとたび習慣になれば、

それを続ける事ができます。

あたくしは、このように訳しました。

あなたなら、どう訳しますか？

素晴しい訳があったら教えてくださいませ。

では、今日も楽しく元気よく

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあ、バ～♪～イ。

タグ:Airhead, のろま, アホ, 空気頭, 間抜け, 馬鹿
カテゴリー: ジューンさんが登場, 英語・英会話, 卑弥子さんが登場, 俗語（スラング）・方言・卑語 | コメントする »

Diane Girdles the Globe

2012年4月22日

Diane Girdles the Globe

(maid12.gif)

(biker106.jpg)

Subj:I’ll wear a helmet

next time I ride in London.

From: diane@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Thu, Apr 12, 2012 8:29 pm
Pacific Daylight Saving Time

Hello, Kato!

I read the following story.

(biker303.jpg)

■”Biker Babe”

(Thur. April 12, 2012)

If I knew I was going to go riding in London, I definitely would have brought a helmet… oh, well, at least I brought my underwear!
I really enjoyed Himiko’s monologue.

【Himiko’s Monologue】

I’m a biker babe, too.
You don’t believe me, do you?

Well… I don’t drive a bike.
But, I like to go for a ride on a bike.

How?… you may ask.

Well…I’m always a piggyback rider like this:

(biker012.jpg)

But, the other day when I went for a ride on the bike my cousin was driving, the cop in the picture stopped us.
At first I didn’t know why he stopped us.
You may wonder if I was wearing no panties.
Of course, I did wear a string bikini bottom.
But the problem wasn’t my panties, but a helmet.

So whenever you ride a bike piggyback, you’d better wear a helmet, too.
Otherwise, you’d get a ticket and pay fine.

I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye …

This was too funny.
Thanks for sending it.

It was good to see you on Tuesday.
We had an amazing yoga class.
A girlfriend from my building joined me.

She is a lovely gal who used to be a grade school teacher and yoga teacher on the side.
She thought it was wonderful, too.
We both just about floated home we were so relaxed.
… too bad we can’t hold on to that feeling, eh kiddo?
One day you’ll have to join us.

Anyway, you are such a story teller, kiddo.

Love, Diane ~

Kato, what do you mean by “Diane girdles the globe”?

Do you have any idea?

Well…, I went over to London, and now I’m back here in Vancouver, but I don’t think I’ve ever circled the world.

You haven’t covered the whole world, but you’ve almost covered the globe through my readers.

…trotted over this earth through your readers?　… 　What’s that supposed to mean, Kato?

Diane, take a look at the following chart.

(wp20421.gif)

This is a list showing the number of page views visitors made on my following blog site:

■http://denman705.wordpress.com/

So, you’re saying that those Net surfers came from the above 48 countries, aren’t you?

Yes, I am.

You told me the other day that you’ve got several other blogs.

Yes, I have. 　To be exact, I’ve got eighteen blogs and one web site as follows.

(denmansyn.gif)

So, you call those sites as “Denman Syndicate,” don’t you?

Yes, I do. 　You see, Diane…you haven’t met those visitors from the 48 countries, but they virtually met you and imagined you as the following pictures:

(biker106.jpg)

(biker105.jpg)

(biker203.jpg)

So, in a sense, you visited the above 48 countires and met each one of the readers… I mean, virtually. That’s the reason I said you almost covered the whole earth—that is, you girdled the globe.

I see. 　I wish I could meet each one of those visitors…must be a lot of fun!

Yes, I’d say so. 　They seem to have really enjoyed your story.

Which story?

Here it is.

Subj:Summer is here

with us!

Enjoy the sunshine!

From: diane03760@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Tue, Jul 26, 2011 4:35 pm.
Pacific Daylight Saving Time

Thanks my truly skinny Socrates, Kato.

■“Madame Riviera and Burger”

(July 26, 2011)

I’ve read the above article.
Your article is excellent as usual.
I did remember that you lived in Yellowknife some years ago.

Many years ago, I too lived for six months or so in the north, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Actually, I worked for a mining company in a small town called Faro (Anvil Mines at the time) as secretary to the President.
I was given my own apartment (most of the staff had to live in bunk houses) and a huge salary compared with what I would receive in Vancouver.
So I was thrilled about that.

I didn’t want to feel totally isolated, though, so I asked whether I could eat with the others in the cookhouse and they obliged.

Thank God.
It was fun and much easier than doing my own cooking and making do with the limited selection in the local store.
The cook took a special liking to me and every day he would give me extra rations of cookies and cakes.

Pretty soon I realized that if I took advantage of these favours I would end up being a roly-poly.

so I would take them and then give them away.
Lotsa fun.

I do remember a really cute Japanese gal who worked up there telling me she had already gained 25 lbs in one year, and it showed.

It was all the lesson I needed, thankfully.

SOURCE: “Biker Babe”
(Thur. April 12, 2012)

But, Kato, I wonder how they could possibly find the article that includes my story.

It’s quite easy. 　By now, so many Net surfers know your name. They simply search on GOOGLE, entering your name like this:

(gog20415di.gif)

Wow!…amazing!…249,000,000 hits and my name appears in the third as well as fourth article.

So I told you. 　You’re really getting popular among Net surfers.

I doubt… but how come your articles show up in the first page?

Well… as I told you, I’ve got many sites.

(hg20324ce.gif)

You see… The number of visitors is increasing month by month since I’m working as hard as possible to write interesting stories. 　Besides, Diane, you’re helping me a great deal, writing me many pieces of interesting mail and giving me tons of inspiration. 　This is such a lovely collaboration, I’d say.

I’m glad to hear that, but since your readers are mostly Japanese, I don’t think they appreciate my stories.

Oh yes, they do. 　They’re really looking forward to reading your stories.

What makes you think so, Kato?

Look at the following chart.

(ame20413be.gif)

From 8 to 9 o’clock in the morning, 40 visitors read “Biker Babe.”

How do you know?

Look at the following snap shot of the article at http://ameblo.jp/barclay/.

(ame20413.gif)

■“Biker Babe” at ameblo.jp

Although I posted it in Vancouver at 4:27 p.m. on April 12, this article was published at 8:27 a.m. on April 13 in Tokyo because Japan is 16 hours ahead of us.

So what?

Diane, look at the peak time of the above chart.

Suddenly 40 people read the above article from 8 to 9.

Yes, yes, yes, … they did because they were waiting for something exciting. 　They knew that an article about Diane was about to come at any moment. 　As soon as their RSS reader received the notice of the arrival of “Biker Babe”, they clicked its title and started reading eargerly.

I don’t believe that.

Why not?

There is no way for them to know that an article about me is coming along.

Well…the Japanese are quite ingenious, you know. 　 They’re very keen to use a gadget like a RSS reader so that they could read whatever they want.

But they will never know what’s in store.

Those 40 people were quite eager to read an article about you.

But not many Japanese speak English in the first place.

No, not many. 　That’s absolutely true, but they can read books in English or any written materials in English. Believe me, the Japanese have been learning English since grade 7. 　They don’t want to speak English, but they can read the language.

Kato, are you saying that they are particularly intersted in “Biker Babe”?

Yes, I am.

Why is that?

…’Cause your story is interesting and Himiko’s monologue is quite funny. 　So, word of mouth spread like a wild fire in the dried-up forest.

Show me some proof.

If you say so, please take a look at the following list.

(ame20415en.gif)

This is the list of page views ranking on April 15, two days after the posting of “Biker Babe.” 　Except for RSS feed (rss20.xml), “Biker Babe” is still the top of the ranking.

I see…

You see, Diane, you’re quite popular among the Net surfers in Japan. 　So, go to Tokyo, instead of London.

Why?

…’Cause you could easily expect a red-carper reception, and they would treat you as if the late Princess Di came into life. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, …

(2004fx.png)

【Himiko’s Monologue】

Look at the search result for Diane’s name!
249,000,000 hits!
I can hardly believe this.

Well…, suddenly I get curious so I enter my own name into the GOOGLE engine.
What a surprise!
I cannot find my name.
There are so many entries about Princess Himiko of the ancient Japanese royal family.

I’ve got an adea, and enter my name with Diane and Kato like this.

(gog20421hi.gif)

Yes! Oh yes!
All pages listed in the above are talking about me.
I’m now thoroughly satisfied.

Well… I hope Kato will write another interesting article soon.
So please come back to see me.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye …

If you’ve got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:

■“Hello Diane!”

■“I wish you were there!”

■“Jane Eyre”

■“Jane Eyre Again”

■“Jane Eyre in Vancouver”

■“Jane Eyre Special”

■“Love & Death of Cleopatra”

■“Nice Story”

■“Scrumdiddlyumptious”

■“Spiritual Work or What?”

■“What a coincidence!”

■“Wind and Water”

■“Yoga and Happiness”

■“You’re in a good shape”

■“Madame Riviera and Burger”

■“Roly-poly in the North”

■“Amazing Grace”

■“Diane in Paris”

■“Diane in Montmartre”

■“Squaw House and Melbourne Hotel”

■“Tulips and Diane”

■“Diane in Bustle Skirt”

■“Diane and Beauty”

■“Lady Chatterley and Beauty”

■“Victorian Prudery”

■“Diane Chatterley”

■“From Canada to Japan”

■“From Gyoda to Vancouver”

■“Midnight in Vancouver”

■“Madame Lindbergh”

■“Dead Poets Society”

■“Memrory Lane to Sendai”

■“Aunt Sleepie”

■“Titanic @ Sendai”

■“Birdcage”

(sylvie121.jpg)

■“Roly-poly in the wild”

■“Silence is dull”

■“Zen and Chi Gong”

■“Piano Lesson”

■“Dangerous Relation”

(juneswim.jpg)

Hi, I’m June Adams.

Since Himiko-san did enter her own name into the Google engine, I also did a search entering my own full name.

(gog20421ju.gif)

I’m quite surprised to know that there are so many women with the same name as I have.
There is even a deceased woman listed in the above result.
She died at the age of 83.
I wonder if I would be able to live to that age.
In any case I was sort of relieved to see two pages, in which Kato-san talked about me.

ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』

■『軽井沢タリアセン夫人 – 小百合物語』

とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。

(sylvie122.jpg)

タグ:Access Analysis, Diane, Himiko, Japan, Kato, London
カテゴリー: アクセス解析, アメーバブログ, ジューンさんが登場, ダイアンさんが登場, デンマンさんが登場, デンマンシンジケート, バンクーバー, ブログ入門・虎の巻, Denman Blog (WordPress), Diane Story, 英語・英会話, 訪問者数・閲覧者数, ＧＯＯＧＬＥ検索 | コメントは受け付けていません。

Fatal Relation

2012年3月15日

　
　
Fatal Relation

Subj:Hi, Diane

Have a great time

in London!

(diane25.jpg)

Date: Sun., Feb. 26, 2012 4:11 PM
Pacific Standard Time
From: barclay1720@aol.com
To: diane3760@canada.ca

Hello, Diane,

I’m so glad to know that you’ll visit London.
I was over there about 15 years ago.
I wish I could go there with you again.

Some day… some day… ha, ha, ha, ha, ha …

I’ve been reading many books regarding “Madame Butterfly” since I received your last mail about “A Dangerous Method.”
I was too busy reading those books to write my articles in English.

How come Sabina went through kinky sex life?

I read a book titled “Butterfly” written by Paul Loewen.

(butterfly2.jpg)

According to the author, Paul Loewen lived in Heidelberg during the World War II.
One day, while listening to a record of the opera “Madama Butterfly,” his mother became upset unusually.
When she calmed down eventually, she revealed the secrets of her upbringing.
A Japanese women who became a model of Madama Butterfly had, in fact, a daughter, not a son.

The girl would later married a German doctor who had been a consultant at a hospital in Tokyo.
Four years later she gave birth to a baby boy.
That woman is his mother and the boy is the author—Paul Loewen.

(maiko17.jpg)

That’s what the preface says.

When Loewen learned that the daughter of the so-called Madame Butterfly was his mother, he had a strong interest in the true story of his grandparents.
After the World War II, he had the opportunity to visit Japan in the United-Nations-related work.
In Nagasaki, he discovered the memoirs and letters of the late Pinkerton.

Because the contents of the notes and letters were decadent and sexual, they were not published at the time.
However, in the wake of the death of his mother in 1976, he decided to publish by editing the materials discovered in Nagasaki as well as the diary of Sharpless obtained in the United States in order to reveal the true story of his grandparents.

In the past years, many researchers have tried to find the model of Madame Butterfly of the opera.
Did the model ever exist?
If so, who was she?
This mystery has not been clearly elucidated until now.

Although the discovered materials are certainly suspicious and indeed lacking in credibility, Loewen’s literary Work-up seems quite effective in the sense that the reader really looks forward to the mystery and wants to solve it.

The story begins when Kate (Kathryn Hamilton) and Henry Pinkerton were still young lovers.
Kate is a woman who combines the elegance of demeanor equipped with extraordinary intelligence and breathtaking beauty as well as delicate sensibility.

I’ve found several common traits between Kate and Sabina.
That’s why I’ve been reading the related books in order to get insights into Kate’s as well as Sabina’s mind.

Well…so much so that I’ll write an article about it, and hope you’ll enjoy reading it.
I’ll send another mail to you while you’re enjoying your journey in London so that you will be able to read as a bit of refresher.

In any case, please have a great time in London, learn as much as possible, and experience a great deal of adventure and romance. :)
I’m looking foward to hearing fascinating and inspirational stories from you.

Your truly travel-loving Taliesin,
Kato

:) with love

Subj:London Theatre

Here We Come !

(covent06.jpg)

From: diane@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Sun, Feb 26, 2012 4:57 pm.
Pacific Standard Time

Hi Kato,
Wow! That was a quick response .. thanks so much.

I’ll send you a postcard and we’ll see how long it takes to get from London to Vancouver.

I always think it’s such fun to receive a hard copy of something these days; so quaint, n’est-ce pas?
I’m really getting excited about the prospect of experiencing some new things to shake me out of my routines.
Not an easy task, as I’m sure you know.
So I’m sure this trip will be good for me.

Besides, I’ll get to see how compatible my boyfriend and I are travel-wise.
We’ve already discussed some of our differences.
He is a news junky and likes to glue himself to the television, for instance, and I’m a fan of quiet home spaces.
He’s agreed to watch TV in the bar downstairs or with headphones, so I’m relieved about that.

(headphone.jpg)

Otherwise, it should be fine, hopefully.
Time will tell, as they say.

I think you might be on to something with respect to the commonalities between Kate and Sabina.
It would be interesting to know if they were both abused as children.
This would, of course, explain a lot at least at a superficial level.
Good luck with your sleuthing.

See you when I return from visiting the Queen.

Hug for my truly loving Taliesin.

Ta, ta as they say in England,

Love, Diane ~

Diane, I think you’ve got a keen sixth sense.

Oh… what makes you think so?

You just mentioned:

(danger03.jpg)

As a matter of fact, Kate was abused when she was an adolescent.

I thought so.

How did you know?

Well … maybe, sixth sense as you just mentioned.

I see… Anyway, Kate’s story goes like this:

According to Kate’s confession, her father was a Hungarian-born British baron, his mother a cabaret dancer in Vienna.
On behalf of her mother who didn’t raise her own baby–Kate, the mother’s older sister, who was a music teacher, raised Kate until she turned 14-year-old.

After the death of the aunt, Kate was sent to the father’s older sister who had been married without a child.
Her husband adored Kate, but when she reached sixteen and turned out to be a beautiful girl, he forced her to have sex with him every night.
Kate planned to run away, but it was found out.

The cunning uncle sold her out to a brothel.
In the brothel, she refused to service a man.
Whenever she resisted, Kate faced a harsh punishiment.
Eventually, she surrendered and started to take a guest.

(covent04.jpg)

Her snobbish and cold attitudes didn’t please most of her customers, but some masochistic clients liked her sadistic attitudes.
Therefore, the madame of the brothel gave Kate special education so that she should be able to become a specialist in handling masochists.

Soon, an elderly French ambassador liked Kate, and took her to Washington, D.C.
After the ambassador had been summoned to Paris, Kate remained in the United States and went to college with his financial aid.
Kate planned to enter the social circles with girlfriends of the good family.

Her dream came true when Kate came to know Pinkerton through his sister, Lisa.
Pinkerton had a fiancee at the time, but Kate attracted him without any difficulty.
Before hand, Kate carefully examined his family background.
Pinkerton was an ideal dupe because, although he owned a great deal of property and excellent family ancestry, he didn’t possess his own strong character.

At first Kate considered Pinkerton to be a mediocre man with an air head.
When she noticed that Pinkerton actually possessed rich sensibility and passion inside him, however, Kate came to love him.

Wow! What a dramatic revelation…

According to Paul Loewen, Kate became a femme fatale.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, … a femme fatale, huh?

Yes, she was…and this reminds me of the movie: “Fatal Attraction.”

Why is that?

Did you see the movie, Diane?

Of course, I did.

Fatal Attraction (Trailer)

(fatal001.jpg)

It was quite some time ago, though. 　The movie was such a sensation that everybody seemed to talk about it at the time.

I know … I know. 　It was a hit, becoming the second highest grossing film of 1987 in the United States and hugely popular internationally.

But I don’t quite remember that the movie has something to do with “Madame Butterfly.”

Yes, it has.　　You know, Dan Gallagher, played by Michael Douglas, is a successful, happily married New York attorney living in Manhattan. He meets Alexandra “Alex” Forrest played by Glenn Close. She is an editor for a publishing company. When his wife and daughter were out of town for the weekend, he had a passionate affair with Alex. Though he thought it was understood to be a simple fling, she begins clinging to him. When Dan explains that he must go home, Alex cuts her wrists in a suicide attempt. He helps her to bandage them and later leaves. He thinks the affair is forgotten, but she shows up at various places to see him. She waits at his office one day to apologize and invite him to the opera.

Now, I remember … that opera was “Madame Butterfly.”

You’re right on, Diane. 　Alex was fascinated by “Madame Butterfly.”

Home come…?

‘Cause she was suffering from borderline personality disorder. Such a person displays the behaviors of impulsivity, emotional lability, fear of abandonment, sudden switch from idealization to devaluation and vice versa, and self-mutilation such as wrist cut in a suicide attempt shown in the film. 　So, naturally, Alex identified with Madame Butterfly, who did commit suicide in such a dramatic way as Alex would like to do herself. 　As a matter of fact, in the original ending, Alex committed suicide by slashing her throat with a sword-like kitchen knife—just like Mademe Butterfly.

(fatal003.jpg)

Why did the director change the ending?

‘Cause the test audience didn’t like a suicide ending when the film was shown. 　I suppose, most of the audience didn’t understand the Madame Butterfly theme behind the scene. 　So, the director changed the ending into a more violent one like a gangster movie, that is, more like an American-style ending. 　

(fatal004.jpg)

Michael Douglas is talking about the ending in the following video clip:

Michael Douglas talks on

The Ending Of FATAL ATTRACTION

(fatal002.jpg)

“Fatal Attraction’s” Alternate Ending

Diane, why don’t you see it again?

After all those years, why should I watch it again?

‘Cause it is in such a big demand.

Really?

Look at the following catalogue record:

(lib20301.gif)

There are 13 copies at Vancouver Public Library. 　They are in such a big demand that no copies are available.

How come?

Look at the following details:

(lib20313b.gif)

Six copies are checked out, three copies are on hold, and other four copies are stolen or under trace.

Are you keeping one of the above copies?

Yes, I was.

(lib20301.gif)

But I returned it on March 7.

Amazing! 　Yes, I think I’m gonna reserve one of those DVDs right away.

You can see both endings on this DVD—the original and alternate one. 　You’d better hurry up.

【Himiko’s Monologue】

“Madame Butterfly” is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.

Puccini based his opera in part on the short story “Madame Butterfly” (1898) by John Luther Long, which was dramatized by David Belasco.

Puccini also based it on the novel Madame Chrysanthème (1887) by Pierre Loti.

According to one scholar, the opera was based on events that actually occurred in Nagasaki in the early 1890s.

The original version of the opera, in two acts, had its premiere on February 17, 1904, at La Scala in Milan.

It was very poorly received despite the presence of such notable singers as soprano Rosina Storchio, tenor Giovanni Zenatello and baritone Giuseppe De Luca in the lead roles.

This was due in large part to the late completion and inadequate time for rehearsals.

Puccini revised the opera, splitting the second act into two acts and making other changes.

On May 28, 1904, this version was performed in Brescia and was a huge success.

Between 1915 and 1920, Japan’s best-known opera singer Tamaki Miura won international fame for her performances as Cio-Cio San.

(butterfly3.jpg)

Her statue, along with that of Puccini, can be found in the Glover Garden in Nagasaki, the city where the opera is set.

In any case, I’d like to meet my “Romeo”—a decent man in my future life.
How come I’m always a loner?
I wish I could meet a nice gentleman at the library in my town as Diane met Kato.
Well, they say, there is a way where there is a will.

I hope Kato will write another interesting article.
So please come back to see me.

Have a nice day!
Bye bye …

If you’ve got some time,

Please read one of the following artciles:

■“Hello Diane!”

■“I wish you were there!”

■“Jane Eyre”

■“Jane Eyre Again”

■“Jane Eyre in Vancouver”

■“Jane Eyre Special”

■“Love & Death of Cleopatra”

■“Nice Story”

■“Scrumdiddlyumptious”

■“Spiritual Work or What?”

■“What a coincidence!”

■“Wind and Water”

■“Yoga and Happiness”

■“You’re in a good shape”

■“Madame Riviera and Burger”

■“Roly-poly in the North”

■“Amazing Grace”

■“Diane in Paris”

■“Diane in Montmartre”

■“Squaw House and Melbourne Hotel”

■“Tulips and Diane”

■“Diane in Bustle Skirt”

■“Diane and Beauty”

■“Lady Chatterley and Beauty”

■“Victorian Prudery”

■“Diane Chatterley”

■“From Canada to Japan”

■“From Gyoda to Vancouver”

■“Midnight in Vancouver”

■“Madame Lindbergh”

■“Dead Poets Society”

■“Memrory Lane to Sendai”

■“Aunt Sleepie”

■“Titanic @ Sendai”

■“Birdcage”

■“Roly-poly in the wild”

■“Silence is dull”

■“Zen and Chi Gong”

■“Piano Lesson”

■“Dangerous Relation”

■“Electra Complex”

■“Covent Garden”

Hi, I’m June Adames.

The Royal Opera House, often referred to as simply “Covent Garden”, was constructed as the “Theatre Royal” in 1732 to a design by Edward Shepherd.

During the first hundred years or so of its history, the theatre was primarily a playhouse, with the Letters Patent granted by Charles II giving Covent Garden and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane exclusive rights to present spoken drama in London.

In 1734, the first ballet was presented.

A year later Handel’s first season of operas began.

Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premières here.

It has been the home of The Royal Opera since 1945, and the Royal Ballet since 1946.

The current building is the third theatre on the site following destructive fires in 1808 and 1857.

The façade, foyer and auditorium were designed by Edward Barry, and date from 1858, but almost every other element of the present complex dates from an extensive £178 million reconstruction in the 1990s.

The Royal Opera House seats 2,268 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery.

When you have a chance to stay in London, why don’t you visit the opera house?

You may see some celebs in one of the boxes.

ところで、愛とロマンに満ちた

レンゲさんのお話をまとめて

『レンゲ物語』を作りました。

もし、レンゲさんの記事をまとめて読みたいならば、

次のリンクをクリックしてくださいね。

■『愛とロマンのレンゲ物語』

■『軽井沢タリアセン夫人 – 小百合物語』

とにかく、今日も一日楽しく愉快に

ネットサーフィンしましょうね。

じゃあね。

タグ:Denman, Diane, Fatal Relation, Henry Pinkerton, Kathryn Hamilton, Kato, London, Madame Butterfly, opera madama butterfly, Paul Loewen, vancouver
カテゴリー: アメリカ文化・生活, アメリカ映画, カナダ文化・生活, コミュニケーション・人間関係論, ジューンさんが登場, ダイアンさんが登場, デンマンさんが登場, バンクーバー, バンクーバー市立図書館, 秘話・裏話, 童話・児童文学, 芸能界・芸能人・エンタメ, 英語・英会話, 卑弥子さんが登場, 国際化・グローバル化, 愛のコラボ, 愛の形と色・異性のタイプ, 文学論・芸術論 | コメントする »

Covent Garden

2012年2月28日

　
　
Covent Garden

(covent01.jpg)

Subj:What a dangerous method!

That surely made me think it over.

(danger06.jpg)

From: diane@vancouver.ca
To: barclay1720@aol.com
Date: Fri, Feb 10, 2012 5:49 pm.
Pacific Standard Time

Hi Kato,
My truly romance-loving Taliesin,

Thanks so much for all of this.
I’m going to save it so I can savor it all carefully when time allows.

I’m especially grateful for the summary of how “The Piano” ended.
I suppose Alistair finally came to the sad conclusion that Ada would not ever love him like she loved (or was attracted to) Baines and possibly he felt badly for inflicting such a permanent injury.

I think if he had made a bit more effort from the start and displayed some affection towards Ada, the outcome may have been quite different.
Truly, he would have been a better match for her, I think; rather than her ending up with an illiterate tatooed native fellow.
Ah, but attraction? … who knows?!
Thanks again, though; I did want to know how it all wrapped up.

A Dangerous Method

2011 Official Trailer

Back to the Dangerous Method, I think the situation with her father would not necessarily be one of love (doubtful, really) or true hate, but somewhere in between.
Because she felt turned on the time he beat her, in her mind the association was formed between violence and sex—an association that, even though she was an intelligent woman, seemed to persist.
Perhaps she rose about it eventually, and it did seem she married a rather straight fellow eventually and was at least marginally happy.
Such interesting creatures we are, true?

A Dangerous Method

(danger03.jpg)

A Dangerous Method is a 2011 historical film directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Vincent Cassel.
The screenplay was adapted by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton from his 2002 stage play The Talking Cure, which was based on the 1993 non-fiction book by John Kerr, A Most Dangerous Method: the story of Jung, Freud, and Sabina Spielrein.

The film marks the third consecutive and overall collaboration between Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen (after A History of Violence and Eastern Promises).
This is also the third Cronenberg film made with British film producer Jeremy Thomas, after completing together the William Burroughs adaptation Naked Lunch and the J.G. Ballard adaptation Crash.
A Dangerous Method was a German/Canadian co-production.
The film premiered at The 68th Venice Film Festival and was also featured at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Plot

Set on the eve of World War I, A Dangerous Method is based on the turbulent relationships between Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology, Sigmund Freud, founder of the discipline of psychoanalysis, and Sabina Spielrein, initially a patient of Jung and later a physician and one of the first female psychoanalysts.

SOURCE: “A Dangerous Method”
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think Jung was happy with his marriage as well; both Jung and Sabina had a close working association, both were exploring the mind and its workings, so they had a lot in common to start; the affair, the sex, the violence was an exciting secret and additional turnon for both of them, but not truly necessary for their longterm happiness.
That’s just my take on it.
Perhaps I’m out in left-field.

(hara112.jpg)

■“Electra Complex”

(February 10, 2012)

Wow! Thanks again for all this,
I’m looking forward to reviewing the entire message later,
Have a good weekend, kiddo,

I’m going to a Homelessness Workshop tomorrow at Christ Church Cathedral with Judy Graves, the city’s “voice” for the homeless in Vancouver, a woman who has sacrificed her life, really, for those in need.

As part of the Cathedral’s soup kitchen team, they wanted to give us a greater insight into the situation and look at possible solutions or at least ways to further help the needy.

Love, Diane ~

Subj:Hi, Diane

Have a great time

in London!

(diane25.jpg)

Date: Sun., Feb. 26, 2012 4:11 PM
Pacific Standard Time
From: barclay1720@aol.com
To: diane3760@canada.ca

Hello, Diane,

I’m so glad to know that you’ll visit London.
I was over there about 15 years ago.
I wish I could go there with you again.

some day… some day… ha, ha, ha, ha, ha …

I’ve been reading many books regarding “Madame Butterfly” since I received your last mail about “A Dangerous Method.”
I was too busy reading those books to write my articles in English.

How come Sabina went through kinky sex life?

I read a book titled “Butterfly” written by Paul Loewen.

(butterfly2.jpg)

(maiko17.jpg)

That’s what the preface says.

I’ve found several common traits between Kate and Sabina.
That’s why I’ve been reading the related books in order to get insights into Kate’s as well as Sabina’s mind.

Your truly travel-loving Taliesin,
Kato

:) with love

How long are you gonna stay in London?

A little bit shorter than two weeks.

Well…better than a couple of days. 　

I wish I could stay over there for a whole month.

Why not?

This time I’m not alone.

Oh…? 　With your boyfriend?

Oh no. A group of seven.

I wonder if the group has something to do with the Cathedral’s soup kitchen…and, you guys are gonna help homeless people in London.

Don’t be silly, Kato…not like that. 　We’ll enjoy sightseeing and learn cultural differences…something like that.

I see. 　In any case I hope you’ll have a great time in London.

Thank you, Kato. 　Why don’t you join us?

Oh no, I can’t. 　I’d rather stay in Vancouver. 　As I said, I wanna hear fascinating and inspirational stories from you. 　I’m pretty sure you’ll have some adventures and romances over there. 　Will you not?

Don’t be silly, Kato. 　I won’t disturb other people in my group.

You don’t have to disturb other people. 　What I’m saying is that the whole group should be able to have some adventures and romances in London.

Like what?

Like…ah…streaking in front of the Parliament.

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Don’t be foolish, Kato. 　I’m a Christian. 　I shouldn’t be running naked in any public place.

I thought you were open-minded.

Be serious, Kato. 　Streaking has nothing to do with open-mindedness. 　I think I should behave like a decent Canadian.

Good for you, Diane.

By the way, Kato, you mentioned that you went over to England 15 years ago.

Yes, I did.

What part of London do you recommend me to see?

Covent Garden.

Covent Garden

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It is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane.
It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as “Covent Garden”.

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Lighting Design Madama Butterfly

At Royal Opera House

The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre, north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials, while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum.

Though mainly fields until the 16th century, the area was briefly settled when it became the heart of the Anglo-Saxon trading town of Lundenwic.
After the town was abandoned, part of the area was walled off by 1200 for use as arable land and orchards by Westminster Abbey, and was referred to as “the garden of the Abbey and Convent”.

The land, now called “the Covent Garden”, was seized by Henry VIII, and granted to the Earls of Bedford in 1552.
The 4th Earl commissioned Inigo Jones to build some fine houses to attract wealthy tenants. Jones designed the Italianate arcaded square along with the church of St Paul’s.
The design of the square was new to London, and had a significant influence on modern town planning, acting as the prototype for the laying-out of new estates as London grew.

A small open-air fruit and vegetable market had developed on the south side of the fashionable square by 1654.
Gradually, both the market and the surrounding area fell into disrepute, as taverns, theatres, coffee-houses and brothels opened up; the gentry moved away, and rakes, wits and playwrights moved in.

By the 18th century it had become a well-known red-light district, attracting notable prostitutes.

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An Act of Parliament was drawn up to control the area, and Charles Fowler’s neo-classical building was erected in 1830 to cover and help organise the market.

The area declined as a pleasure-ground as the market grew and further buildings were added: the Floral Hall, Charter Market, and in 1904 the Jubilee Market.
By the end of the 1960s traffic congestion was causing problems, and in 1974 the market relocated to the New Covent Garden Market about three miles (5 km) south-west at Nine Elms.
The central building re-opened as a shopping centre in 1980, and is now a tourist location containing cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market called the Apple Market, along with another market held in the Jubilee Hall.

Covent Garden, with the postcode WC2, falls within the London boroughs of Westminster and Camden, and the parliamentary constituencies of Cities of London and Westminster and Holborn and St Pancras.
The area has been served by the Piccadilly line at Covent Garden tube station since 1907; the journey from Leicester Square, at 300 yards, is the shortest in London.

Covent Garden at night

SOURCE: “Covent Garden”
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How come you recommend this part of London?

Well… you see, it was once a well-known red-light district, attracting notable prostitutes.

Don’t be silly, Kato. 　Why should I visit the once notorious red-light district?

I don’t mean, you should streak on the street of Covent Garden.

Kato!…tsk, tsk, tsk … you, naughty brat!…you’re preoccupied with streaking, aren’t you? 　Do you really want me to run naked in London?

Oh no … Londoners would be more than happy to see you run naked, but the reason I recommend Covent Garden is Royal Opera House.

Why is that?

You see… As I wrote in the mail, I’ve been reading many books regarding “Madame Butterfly” since I received your last mail about “A Dangerous Method.”

So what?

Well…”Madame Butterfly” is an opera created by Giacomo Puccini.

Puccini was an Italian composer, wasn’t he?

Yes, he was.

How come you brought up Royal Opera House and Puccini together?

A good question … Puccini had a romance with Sybil Seligman at Royal Opera House.

Sybil Seligman

Who is Sybil Seligman?

Puccini met her on his business trip to London. One of his friends introduced her to the composer, who at once liked her because she was beautiful and full of inspiration.

Was she married?

Yes, she was. Puccini could convince his wife that his friendship to Sybil was of a purely intellectual nature.

Did his wife believe it?

Well… yes and no. His wife, Elvira, was suffering from an inferiority complex for not being educated or interested in matters of art. Although she didn’t believe it 100%, Elvira had no other option. So she accepted Sybil as Puccini’s artistic counsel and confidant because Elvira herself was never able to be.

I see. That’s how their romance started, isn’t it?

That’s right. Sybil was Puccini’s friend, confidant and lover for more than 20 years, suggested topics and translated dramas and literature for Puccini who barely spoke an English word. Sibyl translated Oscar Wilde’s “A Florentine Tragedy” for the composer, who nearly turned it into a first third of the planned trittico but then decided otherwise. Later, Alexander v. Zemlinsky adapted it and turned it into “the Florentine Tragedy.”

What is the romance you’re talking about, Kato?

Well… Puccini and Sybil got out to the theatre at Covent Garden every night.

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David, Sybil’s husband and businessman, didn’t like music, and didn’t like Puccini at all, but he pretended to like him while her husband had allegedly countless affairs. Sybil didn’t care because she enjoyed seeing operas with Puccini. Later she told her friends that those night-outs with Puccini were the happiest years of her life.

How about Puccini?

Of course, he never forget those inspirational evenings.

How come you’re so sure sbout it, Kato?

‘Cause one of those nights, Puccini saw with Sybil “Madame Butterfly”—a play dramatized by David Belasco. Puccini loved it and decided to turn it into his opera.